HOUSTON -- The University of Houston women's basketball team lost an
integral part of its team on Sunday afternoon as freshman standout Chandi
Jones, the team's leading scorer as well as the nation's leading freshman
scorer, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee.

Jones suffered the injury with about 30 seconds remaining in the first half
of the Lady Cougars' 71-67 win over the UAB Lady Blazers on Sunday (January
28) at Hofheinz Pavilion. She fell and twisted her knee after being fouled
while attempting to make a jump shot.

An MRI revealed the tear of the ACL, and surgery to repair the tear will be
performed by Dr. Walter Lowe, the University's head team physician, in
about two weeks before she begins rehabilitation.

"This is a tremendous loss for our team, but now it's a time for us to
regroup and come together as a basketball family and take it to the next
level, " said head coach of the Lady Cougars, Joe Curl. "I love Chandi
like a daughter and know in my heart that she will overcome this injury
like the true champion she is."

At the time of her injury, Jones, an All American/All Conference and C-USA
Freshman of the Year candidate, was the nation's leading freshman scorer,
12th overall in the country, averaging 22.0 points per game. She was second
in scoring average in Conference USA and was leading all players in C-USA
games with 23.6 points per game.

Jones has been a major catalyst on both offense and defense for the Lady
Cougars and a big reason for their turnaround this season. They currently
rest in first place of Conference USA's National Division with a 14-6
overall record, including 7-1 in C-USA games.